[Pflienews] PharmFacts E-News Update: Idaho CC bill stuck in Senate; Glendon declines stage with Barrie at ND;
PFLI PharmAid Center
pfli at pfli.org
Mon Apr 27 14:58:13 MDT 2009
*PharmFacts E-News Update -- 27 Apr 2009 AD
ID bill HB 216 gets stalled by abortoholics
*
/Idaho Chooses Life Alliance
/Idaho Chooses Life Alliance is currently leading the fight in its state
to support a pharmacists' conscience bill, has posted a number of blog
entries concerning the bill and has recently produced a brochure on the
subject. All of these are particularly worthy of our consideration
given the pro-abortion push nationwide to remove such rights.
Many observers believe health-care professionals, including pharmacists,
already have a right to conscience in their work under the First
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. And, in fact, they do. As of now,
Americans still enjoy the right to practice their religion and follow
their conscience. However, at the same time, we must recognize that
pharmacists of faith and conscience are under assault across the nation.
As some in the abortion movement put it -- if they want a conscience,
they should get out of the profession. And there is the key rub: the
abortion lobby is engaged in a national campaign to force health-care
professionals, especially pharmacists, into submitting to their
anti-life agenda.
It is essential that we be able to trust the corner pharmacist to look
out for us. The integrity of the profession is vital to all of us. We
need it stocked with the best and brightest men and women of the highest
moral character. One day, your very life may depend upon that pharmacist
behind the counter having a conscience!
The Idaho House bill, HB216, passed by a strong 48-21 vote on March 30
after vigorous debate. Most Democrats opposed the bill, with many
arguing against its passage. The theme of their opposition was that 1)
this bill is unnecessary because pharmacists already are protected and
2) if we pass this bill, terrible things will happen. Representative
Bayer, during his debate in support of the bill, observed that such
argumentation was circular: Either pharmacists are being compelled to
violate their conscience now, or the dire predictions are unlikely to
happen.
It takes some real work to make sense of their position. If pharmacists
already have such rights, then how could there be any dramatic
consequence should those rights be codified? Either the profession is
currently protected by conscience rights, and guided by professional
ethics which drive pharmacists to care for their patients -- or it is
full of rogues restrained only by the power of employers to compel
pharmacists to follow orders.
After some reflection, it seems that large employers are concerned that
HB216 would force them to actually respect the conscience rights of
pharmacists, even when it is inconvenient. These big institutions want
to be able to pay lip service to the "rights" of their employees --
while retaining the power to intimidate, manipulate or otherwise coerce
these pharmacists into hewing the party line. That makes "conscience"
not a "right" -- but a polite courtesy.
[Idaho HB216 is now stuck in the Senate Health & Welfare Committee where
its prospects are dim. Committee Chair, Senator Patti Ann Lodge, could
stand to hear from concerned citizens at 208.332.1319 or
palodge at senate.idaho.gov <mailto:palodge at senate.idaho.gov>].
And that is the reason the previous administration developed rules to
enforce Congressional platitudes which had failed to protect real people
working in huge institutions driven by profits and a post-Christian
medical ethic. A mountain of evidence was developed by HHS which showed
health care providers facing persecution and harassment because of their
religious beliefs and violations of conscience rights.
The American people seem to grasp what is stake over the battle to
protect health care providers -- doctors, pharmacists, nurses -- from a
political and economic agenda first advanced by the largest domestic
terrorist organization, Planned Parenthood. A national poll was
conducted at the end of last month to test the public's reaction to
President Barrie Hussein's attack on conscience protections for health
care providers. An astonishing 87% of those surveyed believe it is
important to "make sure that health-care professionals are not forced to
participate in procedures and practices to which they have moral
objections."
Once again, the wisdom of the people is confirmed smarter than conniving
abortohoic politicians. Our basic trust in medical advice and treatment
is based upon a belief that those professionals are acting with
integrity to ensure our health and welfare. Conscience protections help
secure public confidence in the various allied health care professions.
PFLI is cooperating with and assisting Idaho Chooses Life with the
Conscience Clause bill. For more information and regular updates go to:
www.pfli.org.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/byinst.asp?sessionid=09rs&billtype=HB&billno=517
*
LA introduces health care conscience clause bill.* Bill is referred to
committee. Primary author and sponsor is H Bernard LeBas, D-38, a
registered pharmacist in Louisiana.
Developing.....
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Declining Notre Dame: A Letter from Mary Ann Glendon
<http://www.firstthings.com/blog/2009/04/27/declining-notre-dame-a-letter-from-mary-ann-glendon/>
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09042702.html
By *Mary Ann Glendon*
Monday, April 27, 2009, 9:32 AM
April 27, 2009
The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame
Dear Father Jenkins,
When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to
receive Notre Dame's Laetare Medal, I was profoundly moved. I treasure
the memory of receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, and
I have always felt honored that the commencement speech I gave that year
was included in the anthology of Notre Dame's most memorable
commencement speeches. So I immediately began working on an acceptance
speech that I hoped would be worthy of the occasion, of the honor of the
medal, and of your students and faculty.
Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was
to be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would have to
rewrite my speech. Over the ensuing weeks, the task that once seemed so
delightful has been complicated by a number of factors.
First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame
also planned to award the president an honorary degree. This, as you
must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops' express request of 2004
that Catholic institutions "should not honor those who act in defiance
of our fundamental moral principles" and that such persons "should not
be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for
their actions." That request, which in no way seeks to control or
interfere with an institution's freedom to invite and engage in serious
debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a
loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.
Then I learned that "talking points" issued by Notre Dame in response to
widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying
that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:
. "President Obama won't be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the
former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient
of the Laetare Medal."
. "We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates,
meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing
for the president and for the causes we care about."
A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the
graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief
acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very
serious problems raised by Notre Dame's decision---in disregard of the
settled position of the U.S. bishops---to honor a prominent and
uncompromising opponent of the Church's position on issues involving
fundamental principles of justice.
Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are
similarly choosing to disregard the bishops' guidelines, I am concerned
that Notre Dame's example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.
It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot
accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.
In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my
decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to
make any further comment on the matter at this time.
Yours Very Truly,
Mary Ann Glendon
/Mary Ann Glendon is Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law
School. A member of the editorial and advisory board of /First Things/,
she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican from 2007 to 2009./
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFLI PharmAid Center
pfli at pfli.org <mailto:pfli at pfli.org>
PO Box 1281
Powell, OH 43065-1281 USA
800-227-8359
www.pfli.org
PFLI supports pharmacist rights of conscience NOT to be forced to
dispense or counsel for chemicals which violate their sincerely held
religious, moral or ethical beliefs. For more info see:
http://www.pfli.org/main.php?pfli=conscienceclausefaq
*** PFLI is the only pharmacy association which is exclusively pro-life.
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in the USA, Canada and all around the globe. For membership info, key
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